2025 Pilot Program - Media Inquiries
Park Access Fund Expansion: New Pilot Program for 2025
Since 2016, Vermont Parks Forever has been granting free days in the state parks through the Park Access Fund to ensure that all Vermonters have the chance to enjoy these amazing spaces and the health benefits of spending time in nature.
New this year, over 100,000 Vermonters receiving services through the Economic Services Division of the Department for Children and Families and the Department of Health's WIC Program will have free day-use entry to the state parks during the 2025 season.
This privately funded pilot program is an expansion of the existing Park Access Fund and is the first of its kind in the nation. It’s a Vermont-grown, Vermont-focused, and Vermont-led idea!
Key Points of Pilot Program
Who: 100,000 income eligible Vermonters enrolled in 3SquaresVT, Essential Person Program, Fuel Assistance, General Assistance, Reach Up, Summer EBT, and WIC
What: Free day-use entry to state parks
When: May-October 2025
Where: Vermont State Parks
How: Privately funded by donations to Vermont Parks Forever, the foundation for the state parks
Why: The outdoors are for everyone! Spending time in nature provides health and wellness benefits for all of us.
Frequently Asked Questions for Media Partners
Who is Vermont Parks Forever?
Vermont Parks Forever (VPF) is the only non-profit foundation for Vermont’s 55 state parks. Founded in 2013, VPF focuses on nature education, access to parks, and equity in the outdoors.
What is the Park Access Fund?
Vermont Parks Forever’s Park Access Fund has been creating a more equitable outdoor experience since 2016. Over the past decade, the Park Access Fund has provided over 50,000 free days in the state parks to over 50 community partners throughout Vermont. These vetted community partners serve Vermonters facing barriers to outdoor experiences. In 2024, VPF provided over 14,000 free days in the parks through the Park Access Fund and added 4 beach wheelchairs to the state park system.
To see where there are beach wheelchairs in Vermont’s state parks, visit the Adaptive Beach Access page.
To see a list of 2025 Park Access Fund grantees, visit the Park Access Fund page.
To see the impact the Park Access Fund has on Vermonters, read the 2024 Park Access Report.
Why is there a Park Access Fund?
The outdoors are for everyone! Spending time in nature provides health and wellness benefits for all of us.
Economic, transportation, and educational barriers exist to spending time outdoors. The Park Access Fund works to remove barriers so more Vermonters can benefit from time spent in the state parks.
Working in all 14 counties, the Park Access Fund has served foster families, youth programs, those with developmental disabilities, new Americans, mental health clients, and those with limited mobility, among others. VPF has seen an exponential growth in need over the past decade (1250% growth of the program) and is excited to announce this major expansion to the Park Access Fund from May to October 2025!
When did the Park Access Fund begin?
In 2016, The Park Access Fund started with a small grant of passes to Vermont’s Department for Children and Families to help more foster families get into the parks. VPF's next partners included a nonprofit helping adaptive athletes and a summer program focused on children's literacy. Over the years, the program increased as VPF realized additional barriers to park entry.
The Park Access Fund grew to include transportation aid, permits for group events in parks, scholarships for families to Outdoor Family Weekend, assistance for new campers, outdoor gear support, and increasing beach wheelchairs in the state parks.
This pilot program can trace its roots to discussions begun in 2017 with local food support organizations. In early 2023, Scott Brown of Hanover, New Hampshire, suggested this current expansion with an idea inspired by museums that discount tickets to those receiving federal food assistance benefits. In 2023 and 2024, VPF partnered with WIC to increase visitation to the parks in this population.
Why this pilot program expansion and is this a new state benefit?
VPF's goal of this pilot program is to reduce barriers to state park entry for income eligible Vermonters. This expansion is a logical extension of the work VPF is already doing through the Park Access Fund and is privately funded. It is not a new state benefit. The pilot program will greatly increase the number of Vermonters able to enjoy the state parks.
“Vermont's state parks are for everyone. This pilot program will strengthen our communities and make it easier for more Vermonters to enjoy the outdoors,” said Sarah Alberghini Winters, Executive Director of Vermont Parks Forever. “We all benefit from time spent in Vermont's beautiful state parks!”
In addition to this expansion, VPF regularly funds thousands of free days in the parks to Vermonters underrepresented in the outdoors and works to improve accessibility through beach wheelchairs. See the 2025 Park Access Fund grantees and learn more.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible Vermonters include those enrolled in: 3SquaresVT, Essential Person Program, Fuel Assistance, General Assistance, Reach Up, Summer EBT, and WIC.
Vermonters not eligible for this pilot program can receive help accessing the state parks through our community partners, library passes, and the Green Mountain Passport.
How many Vermonters will this pilot program help?
Over 100,000 Vermonters will have free day-use access to the state parks this year through this pilot program!
Over 53,000 Vermont households are enrolled in services through the Economic Services Division of the Department for Children and Families. Additionally, there are over 10,000 active WIC participants in Vermont.
Why does VPF think this pilot program will work?
Nine years of the Park Access Fund has introduced thousands of Vermonters to their state parks and encouraged even more to make spending time in nature part of their routine.
Additionally, VPF has worked with the Department for Children and Families and WIC in the past to help their clients access the parks and are confident that many more will enjoy the parks this year!
Offering free day use access to state parks is a cost-effective way to enhance the health of Vermont's communities and provide more equitable access to residents with lower incomes.
What's next for the Park Access Fund and this pilot expansion?
VPF hopes to keep this pilot program running in the future if needed funds can be secured. This is a privately funded program and VPF is thankful for the donors listed below.
What else does VPF do?
VPF works to support nature centers and nature education through Natural Connections.
VPF funds student internships. Learn about the Mt. Philo Forever Fund and stay tuned for more opportunities.
Read the latest news from Vermont Parks Forever on VPF's blog.
Sign up for VPF's monthly e-newsletter to stay up to date.
Who are Vermont Parks Forever's partners in this pilot program?
Vermont State Parks: The mission of Vermont State Parks is to conserve and interpret on behalf of the people of Vermont their natural, cultural, historic, and scenic heritage, and while so doing, to provide recreational opportunities and economic benefit. The emphasis in this dual role should be provided only within the ability of the natural and cultural resources to support the activity.
Vermont Economic Services Division: To provide high quality service while administering programs to improve economic well-being for Vermonters.
WIC: The mission of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is to safeguard the health of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding/chestfeeding individuals, infants, and children up to age 5 by providing healthy foods, nutrition education, lactation support, and referrals to health care and other community services. HealthVermont.gov/WIC
Vermont Parks Forever extends a special thank you to Scott Brown of Hanover, New Hampshire for shepherding this pilot program!
Why the state parks?
Vermont’s 55 state parks (VSP) are a unique entryway into nature: existing infrastructure, friendly staff, and a welcoming environment provide a safe place for both entry-level and seasoned nature lovers to spend time outdoors.
To read visitor experiences in the parks, read stories on VPF's blog.
How to support this pilot program:
Contributions are welcome in support of this pilot program and can be made at:
www.vermontparksforever.org/give-park-access
For additional questions, please contact:
Vermont Parks Forever: info@vermontparksforever.org
Vermont State Parks: Nate McKeen, Director of State Parks: Nate.McKeen@vermont.gov
Vermont Economic Services Division of Department for Children and Families: AHS.DCFCommunications@vermont.gov
Vermont WIC: AHS.VDHMedia@vermont.gov
Thank you to Sevenpair Studios for the top photo!
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Thank you to our 2024 Park Access Fund Community Partners for these photos!
